Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Santa Clarita, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Santa Clarita, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,443 per month in New York, NY vs $3,718 in Santa Clarita, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,945 per month in New York, NY vs $4,981 in Santa Clarita, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,447 per month in New York, NY vs $6,244 in Santa Clarita, CA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 19% more than Santa Clarita, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both New York, NY and Santa Clarita, CA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 234%, Santa Clarita, CA by 179%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 $30.45

$18.42 $18.42

65.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 $146

$84.1 $84.1

73.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 $12.71

$15.12 $15.12

-15.94%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$6.06 $6.06

-3.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.15 $3.15

2.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.33 $2.33

16.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$9.23 $9.23

-11.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$9.07 $9.07

31.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.24 $1.24

25.81%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$4.03 $4.03

24.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$4.94 $4.94

68.62%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$5.55 $5.55

26.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$23.03 $23.03

-24.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$10.56 $10.56

58.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.01 $20.01

$16.73 $16.73

19.61%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$6.69 $6.69

15.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$3.72 $3.72

53.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$2.96 $2.96

116.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$10.20 $10.20

-63.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.36 $4.36

-10.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.08 $3.08

-1.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.94 $2.94

-12.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 $18.84

$13.19 $13.19

42.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$15.10 $15.10

30.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.78 $1.78

68.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.92 $3.92

-1.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.55 $2.55

12.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$27.10 $27.10

389.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.93 $5.93

-13.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.09 $2.09

5.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.93 $41.93

$51.1 $51.1

-18.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.21 $1.21

-19.01%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.4K $35.4K

$20.1K $20.1K

76.53%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.5K $27.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

5.05%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$184 $184

$232 $232

-20.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.9 $59.9

$62.7 $62.7

-4.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$77.8 $77.8

-19.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$36.37 $36.37

283.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.0 $65.0

$25.11 $25.11

158.74%

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$12.57 $12.57

61.73%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,153 $3,153

$1,449 $1,449

117.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$36.4K $36.4K

55.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$71.2 $71.2

-4.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.89 $47.89

$14.74 $14.74

224.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$49.25 $49.25

133.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$141 $141

23.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 $4,125

$2,885 $2,885

42.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$2,292 $2,292

17.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,262 $8,262

$3,913 $3,913

111.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,258 $5,258

$3,060 $3,060

71.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$3,734 $3,734

400.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$4,287 $4,287

50.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,584 $5,584

$5,064 $5,064

10.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.68

-3.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for New York, NY: July 25, 2026

Last update for Santa Clarita, CA: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,125 in New York, NY versus $2,885 in Santa Clarita, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 10% higher in New York, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $146 in New York, NY versus $84.0 in Santa Clarita, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $555 vs $476 – making Santa Clarita, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

New York, NY vs Santa Clarita, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 19% more than Santa Clarita, CA, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,664 per month in New York, NY and $5,578 in Santa Clarita, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Clarita, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $3,153 per month in New York, NY and $1,449 in Santa Clarita, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in New York, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,443 in New York, NY and $3,718 in Santa Clarita, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Santa Clarita, CA costs $3,718 versus $4,443 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Santa Clarita, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.